Letters to the editor: Catholics must unite; Republicans are obstructionists

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On a Sunday after Mass, hundreds of members of St. Mary's Catholic Church gathered outside to show support for their Turner Avenue NW parish, which is expected to see changes under a Grand Rapids Diocese restructuring plan.

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Catholics should support bishop
As a practicing Catholic, I know there are parishes in Grand Rapids that could benefit from the energy of the parishioners at St. Mary’s. The passion they have for their church is simply amazing. However, their demonstration in opposition to the bishop was wrongheaded.

What I found most curious about their protest was organizer Mike Braunschneider’s decision to recite the words of John Lennon. Don’t get me wrong, Lennon was a fine musician, but if you’re going to hold a rally about intra-Catholic issues, you’re better off referencing someone who knows a thing or two about Catholicism.

These days, it seems that every lay person is their own bishop. Some Catholics have gone so far as to endorse the egregious Health and Human Services mandate, while others think abortion and same sex unions are morally permissible.

In my opinion, the parishioners at St. Mary’s were very disrespectful to Bishop Hurley. Though the clergy should seek advice from the laity every now and then, Catholics should remind themselves of what St. Paul wrote in chapter 12 of his First Letter to the Corinthians and support their religious leaders – especially in these trying times – even if they don’t always agree with them.STEPHEN KOKX/Grand Rapids

Republicans are uncooperative obstructionistsPresident Obama has repeatedly tried to work out compromise deals with the Republicans, but so much is added to any proposed legislation by the GOP there is no chance of anything being passed.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Republicans' main objective was making sure Obama is a one-term president, and they're playing the game to perfection, not only being uncooperative but obstructionist. BRAD BROWN/Georgetown Township